5th Annual Reverse Tashlich: An Environmental Action with Social Justice Impacts
In addition to throwing sins into a body of water, as is customary for the High Holidays in October, we would like to promote a "Reverse Tashlich" where people improve their local watershed by removing trash.
Gather your friends, family or a group from your Temple and help us remove trash from the Mystic River Watershed between October 2nd through October 12th. A majority of litter found in the ocean comes from rivers. By cleaning up your local watershed, you not only benefit your community—you also help prevent this litter from going downstream and ultimately ending up in the ocean. It is simple:
1) Pick a site on the Mystic River (or your local waterbody to clean up). See the maps below!
2) Register here.
3) Go out between October 2nd through October 12th ideally and remove litter. We understand that schedules get busy—so if you need to extend or do your cleanup a little early or a little later—we understand.
4) Report back on the amount of litter you collected and send a selfie. Email this to Michelle.Liebetreu@MysticRiver.org.
5) MyRWA will send out a report about the impact that this group made in stopping litter from entering our oceans.
By collecting this litter from your backyard—you will both improve your environment and stop litter from getting into our oceans. Eagles, alewives, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs ... and some sins...all in our backyard that can be carried to the ocean. Let’s start 5784 off right with this fun, outdoors, Tikkun Olam project!
Mystic Lakes, Shannon Beach in Winchester to Mystic Lakes Dam in Medford
Horn Pond, Woburn (and near Lexington)
Parking: Horn Pond Boat Launch - Google Maps
Alewife Reservation, Cambridge & Belmont (if you do the reservation)
Blessing of the Bay Park, Somerville
Paddleboston : Blessing of the Bay, Somerville - Google Maps
Mary O’Malley Park, Chelsea
Google map here
Park at the north size of the plaza with Super 88 Market, 188 Commercial St, Malden, MA 02148. Walk to Malden River. Can be nettles, so where pants. Another option is the Northern Strand Community Trail, which goes right through Malden Center.
“How to” of cleanups:
1) Wear long pants, closed toed shoes and gloves.
2) Refrain from picking up sharp items.
3) Bring garbage bags and come up with a plan for disposing of the bags. If you are doing a small event, it might be easiest to bring the bags home and dispose of them there. If you believe you will have a large number of bags call your the Department of Public Works (311 number) for your city/town or the Dept of Conservation and Recreation to arrange for pickup. Need help finding that information:, please contact Michelle.Liebetreu@MysticRiver.org.
Want to learn more about Reverse Tashlich, check out these resources:
Tikkun HaYam-the national organization that launched Reverse Tashlich
Earth Etude for Elul 3: Joining 50 Years of Mystic River Watershed Environmental Advocacy-written by MyRWA volunteer and President of Friends of Spy Pond Park, Karen L. Grossman
What more can you do about trash in our waters?
Keep your yard and local street storm water drain clean of all debris, especially trash. Leaves and dirt are also important to remove from the street storm water drains. These clog the drains and impede drainage. They also contain phosphates from inorganic fertilizers and poisons. Avoiding use of inorganic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides also protect our environment from toxins. These toxins are flushed into our waterways via street storm water drains.
Refuse plastics and polystyrene (Styrofoam). Easy first steps include bringing your own reusable shopping bags. Nylon bags fit easily in your life. Usually, a local butcher will wrap meat or fish in wax coated paper and a plastic bag. But, that plastic bag can be used for containing trash properly disposed. Ask for paper containers for left-overs from restaurants. You can bring your own take home containers.
Reduce your waste by changing your habits. There are simple ways and more extensive efforts to create change. Use reusable containers for hot drinks. Use reusable bags for shopping vegetables and fruits. Every reduction makes a difference.
Reuse your “disposables”. Be creative, save money and protect the environment! Purchase second hand items. Share decorations and tools with your neighbors. Bring your own utensils and cups to work for meals.
Recycle and compost properly. Review your city recycling policies. Plastic bags and polystrene (#6 Styrofoam) are not accepted in curbside recycling pickups. Clean white foam can be deposited inside the Save Your Stuff trailer at the City Yard. There are commercial composting companies that service Malden: Bootstrap Compost and Black Earth Compost
Learn more about the zero waste movement and tips at EcoWatch.
